lations, pitch and tar,
sail-cloth. They must, however, be taken _in delicto_, in the actual
prosecution of a voyage to the enemy's port.

CONTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMENT. The agreement for the letting to freight the
whole or any part of a vessel for one or more voyages; the
_charter-party_.

CONTRACT TICKET. A printed form of agreement with every passenger in a
passenger-ship, prescribed by the legislature.

CONTRARY. The wind when opposed to a vessel's course.

"Cruel was the stately ship that bore her love from Mary,
And cruel was the fair wind that wouldn't blow contrary."

CONTRAVALLATION, LINES OF. Continuous lines of intrenchment round the
besieged fortress, and fronting towards it, to guard against any sorties
from the place. (_See_ CIRCUMVALLATION.)

CONTRIBUTION. Money paid in order to save a place from being plundered
by a hostile force. (_See_ RANSOM.) Also, a sum raised among merchants,
where goods have been thrown overboard in stress of weather, towards the
loss of the owners thereof.

CONTROLLER. Differs from _comptroller_, which applies chiefly to the
duties of an _accompt_. But the controller of the navy controls naval
matters in ship-building, fitting, &c. There is also the controller of
victualling, and the controller-general of the coast-guard.

CONTUMACY. The not appearing to the three calls of the admiralty court,
after the allegation has been presented to the judge, with a schedule of
expenses to be taxed, and an oath of their necessity.

CONVALESCENT. Those men who are recovering health, but not sufficiently
recovered to perform their duties, are reported by the surgeon
"convalescent." Convalescents are _amused_ by picking oakum!

CONVENIENT PORT. A general law-term in cases of capture, within a
certain latitude of discretion; a place where a vessel can lie in
safety, and holding ready communication with the tribunals which have to
decide the question of capture.

CONVENTION. An agreement made between hostile troops, for the evacuation
of a post, or the suspension of hostilities.

CONVERGENT. In geography, a stream which comes into another stream, but
whose course is unknown, is simply a convergent.

CONVERSION. Reducing a vessel by a deck, thereby converting a
line-of-battle ship into a frigate, or a crank three-decker into a good
two-decker; or a serviceable vessel into a hulk, resembling a prison or
dungeon, internally and externally, as much as possible.

CONVERSION OF STOR